Image forming apparatus including a heat shielding device

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device that forms a toner image on a recording medium, a heat fixing device provided adjacent to the image forming device to fix the toner image onto the recording medium by heat, and a heat shielding device that shields the image forming device from the heat radiated from the heat fixing device. The heat shielding device includes a heat shielding member interposed between the image forming device and the heat fixing device to receive the heat radiated from the heat fixing device, a heat transferring member attached to the heat shielding member to transfer the heat received by the heat shielding member to one end portion thereof, a heat radiating fin device provided at the one end portion of the heat transferring member to radiate the transferred heat, and a fan that supplies air to the heat radiating fin device.

1. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
 an image forming device including four photoconductive drums to form a toner image and an endless intermediate transfer belt contacted on an upper surface thereof by the photoconductive drums; 
 a heat fixing device provided adjacent the image forming device to fix the toner image onto the recording medium by heat, the heat fixing device including a casing having a casing surface portion that is slanted relative to a horizontal plane and including
 a heating member having a heater inside thereof to heat the recording medium, and 
 a pressure member configured to apply pressure to the recording medium; and 
 
 a heat shielding device configured to shield the image forming device from heat radiated from the heat fixing device, the heat shielding device including
 a heat shielding member interposed between the image forming device and the heat fixing device to receive the heat radiated from the heat fixing device, said heat shielding member being concave in shape in a direction towards said photoconductive drums, and 
 
 wherein the heat fixing device is positioned under the photoconductive drums. 
 
   
   
     2. The image forming apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the heat shielding member is arranged adjacent to and substantially parallel with the casing surface portion at a predetermined distance away. 
   
   
     3. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
 an image forming means including four photoconductive drums to form a toner image and an endless intermediate transfer belt contacted on an upper surface thereof by the photoconductive drums; 
 heat fixing means provided adjacent the image forming means to fix the toner image onto the recording medium by heat, the heat fixing means including a casing having a casing surface portion that is slanted relative to a horizontal plane and including
 a heating member having a heater inside thereof to heat the recording medium, and 
 a pressure member configured to apply pressure to the recording medium; and heat shielding means configured to shield the image forming means from the heat radiated from the heat fixing means, the heat shielding means including 
 
 a heat shielding member interposed between the image forming means and the heat fixing means to receive heat radiated from the heat fixing means, said heat shielding member being concave in shape in a direction towards said photoconductive drums, and 
 wherein the heat fixing means is positioned under the photoconductive drums. 
 
   
   
     4. The image forming apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein a portion of the heat shielding means is arranged adjacent and substantially parallel to the casing surface portion at a predetermined distance away. 
   
   
     5. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
 an image forming device including four photoconductive drums to form a toner image and an endless intermediate transfer belt contacted on an upper surface thereof by the photoconductive drums; 
 a heat fixing device provided adjacent the image forming device to fix the toner image onto the recording medium by heat, the heat fixing device including a casing having a casing surface portion that is slanted relative to a horizontal plane; and 
 a heat shielding device configured to shield the image forming device from heat radiated from the heat fixing device, the heat shielding device including
 a heat shielding member interposed between the image forming device and the heat fixing device, said heat shielding member being concave in shape in a direction towards said photoconductive drums, and wherein the heat fixing device is positioned under the photoconductive drums. 
 
 
   
   
     6. The image forming apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein a portion of the heat shielding member is arranged adjacent to and substantially parallel with the casing surface portion at a predetermined distance away. 
   
   
     7. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
 an image forming device including plural photoconductive drums configured to form a toner image and an endless intermediate transfer belt contacted on an upper surface thereof by the photoconductive drums; 
 a heat fixing device configured to fix the toner image onto the recording medium, the heat fixing device being positioned under the photoconductive drums and having a casing having a casing surface portion that is slanted relative to a horizontal plane and facing the endless intermediate transfer belt; and 
 a heat shielding member mounted on the image forming apparatus and interposed between the image forming device and said casing of the heat fixing device. 
 
   
   
     8. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
 an image forming device including plural photoconductive drums configured to form a toner image and an endless intermediate transfer belt contacted on an upper surface thereof by the photoconductive drums; 
 a heat fixing device configured to fix the toner image onto the recording medium, the heat fixing device being positioned under the photoconductive drums and having a casing; and 
 a heat shielding member mounted on the image forming apparatus and interposed between the image forming device and said casing of the heat fixing device; 
 wherein the heat shielding member is concave in shape in a direction towards the photoconductive drums.